Life has been a bit on the busy side lately. Summertime can do that to you. I have recently started planning my fall. (I am nowhere near being ready to give up summer yet, but I am a planner by nature.)

Mid summer every year, I begin to consider what ministries I will serve in when September rolls around. I often say "yes" to everything, because I struggle with saying "no" to anything.

I have spent a lot of time in prayer over this, and have come to some really strange conclusions. Life is about to get uncomfortable.

I am giving up serving in youth group. This may not seem too monumental to most, but it has been my life since 1999. I have either attended, had a leadership role, or served in youth group for 14 years. So, taking a year off is getting out of my comfort zone. I will miss my girls, the lame games, and the routine of youth group.

For almost two weeks, I didn't know why God had told me to give youth group up. I had nothing really in the works. Just a still small voice telling me to wait and watch.

About the same time, one of my best friends wrote a blog about her frustration about women's ministry in the church. Read it here!

It was then read by a woman, very involved in women's ministry, that had been praying for years for a solution to young, single women being apart of women's ministry.

So, after much prayer, chats, meetings, and consideration, it is official.

I am co-leading a women's Bible study with one of my best friends this fall.

I am terrified. Give me babies, toddlers, children, or even teenagers, and I am okay. But women!? I don't know a thing about women's ministry. What do I have in common with married women, with children? How could God call me to teach women twenty years older than I am?

For years I have had a very bitter taste in my mouth, left by women from the church. Feelings of not being "enough" (good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, womanly enough etc.) because I can't find a husband, have followed me for years. The lies that something must be wrong with me, have been living in the corners of my mind for far too long. Because I do not have have a man at my side, or a baby on my hip, I have often felt like I don't know what I'm talking about, and have no place in serving in ministry. God is showing me these are just lies from the enemy.

I know that God gave me something to share. I will not let this season of life go to waste. I will do what He has called me to do, even if it is uncomfortable and awkward.

So, instead of growing bitter, and allowing what I think other women's views of me to change who I am, I am stepping up, and stepping out.

It's time to be a bridge, and ask God for healing within women of His church.

So, as uncomfortable as it is, "Hello Women's Ministry!"

It's going to be a crazy ride.

If anyone is interested in joining me in this journey, we will be teaching No Other Gods : confronting our modern day idols by Kelly Minter. Class begins September 16th at The River Church in Holly, MI.

Love, Michelle